What's the Status of Hunting in Britain these Days?

[wanabe]

Hello from America!

Since I'm not on the ground over there I'm curious about this. Is running hounds after a fox allowed as long as you don't allow the hounds to kill it, or not?

 

[wanabe]

And I'm not speaking of what's done illegally. I want to know about the current interpretation of the law.

 

[faerie666]

Yes it is, as long as you use only two hounds, and you either shoot the fox or have it killed by a bird of prey at the end.

 

[wanabe]

I can't believe many hunts have gone to just 2 hounds, have they?

Have most hunts switched over to drag or trailhunts? If so, which is most popular?

Have many hunts just shut down?

 

[faerie666]

No, you're right most hunts still have full packs, and they hunt an artificial trail, but you did ask what's legal these days. :grin: As far as I know, not many hunts, if any at all, have given up because of the ban.

 

[wanabe]

Well, I didn't ask about illegal stuff because I wouldn't want anyone to incriminate themselves.

Which is more popular, the drag hunt (artificial scent) or trailhunt (fox scent)?

 

[faerie666]

Hard to say really. We use fox scent, but I couldn't tell you what other hunts do. There always used to be a fair few drag hunts anyway, even before the ban, so for them, nothing has changed really.
You could always do a poll to find out who does what :grin:

 

[winterhorse]

I am from a drag pack, established before the ban and we hunt a fox scent, not an artifical/chemical one.

 

[wanabe]

Well then, what's the difference between a drag hunt and a trailhunt? I thought that *was* the difference?

 

[winterhorse]

Just saying that the drag hunt i am with was formed as a drag pack in the 1890's. We hunt a fox based scent.
Unfortunatly some fox hound packs, look down on drag packs, so when the ban came in they said they were trail hunting, so not to be associated with drag packs, but are basically doing the same thing.

 

[wanabe]

Ah, yes, I can see that. Wouldn't want to be associated with the lowly drag hunter, now would we! :crazy:

 

[Ravenwood]

It was my understanding that Hunts now use the word Trail hunting in order not to upset the already established Drag hunts as consideration.

 

[GinaB]

The Hunting Ban has not yet come into effect in Northern Ireland, and not sure if it will be. Much like the Dangerous Wildlife Act, brought into effect on the mainland in the 70s (I believe about 76?) and yet was only brought into effect over here int he past few years.

 

[wanabe]

It was my understanding that Hunts now use the word Trail hunting in order not to upset the already established Drag hunts as consideration.

LOL, well that's a kinder, gentler explanation.

 

[wanabe]

Why do (so I've heard) some hunts carry a bird-of-prey along to make things legal if they flush a fox with there hounds? It seems to me that they could make flushing legal only if their were no more than 2 hounds.

 

[wanabe]

Any one want to take a stab at my previous question?